CHICAGO (670 The Score) – For the Bulls, star forward DeMar DeRozan’s heroics never get old.
While it didn’t have the flair of his buzzer-beater that forced overtime last week, DeRozan delivered once again in the clutch Monday, helping lift the Bulls to a 110-107 win against the lowly Blazers at the United Center. DeRozan had a team-high 28 points, including a driving layup and free throw that tied the game with 2:28 left after the Bulls blew all of their 16-point lead in the third quarter and then some.
“Outsiders might (take that for granted), we definitely don’t,” Bulls guard Alex Caruso said of DeRozan. “I’m really thankful he’s on our team.”
At 34 years old, DeRozan leads the NBA in minutes per game (37.7) and total minutes (2,527) this season. He has carried that burden without it negatively affecting his play late in games, as he’s one of the premier closers and most efficient players in crunch time in the league.
“I just really, really, really try to take good care of myself,” DeRozan said. “The best way I can, I try to rest. I don’t have other hobbies that cause me to exert any energy, you know. So I try to take care of myself the best I can. And I just love hooping. I love playing the game, no matter how many minutes it is. I just love being out there.”
On Monday, DeRozan logged just more than 40 minutes. If you’re wondering why that figure was so high against such an opponent that dropped to 19-48, it’s simply because that’s what it took for the Bulls (34-35) to earn the win. Any time DeRozan rests these days with guard Coby White sidelined lately by a hip injury, the Bulls find themselves in a precarious position.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan made a point to steal some rest for DeRozan by subbing him out with 7:29 left and the Bulls leading 100-91 over the Blazers. Two empty possessions for the Bulls and two buckets for the Blazers later, Chicago led just 100-96 and Donovan needed a timeout with 6:12 left to get DeRozan back in the game.
The Blazers continued their run to eventually take a 105-102 lead. DeRozan then tied it with a strong driving layup on which he got fouled too. After Chicago took a 106-105 lead with 49 seconds left when Caruso split a pair of free throws, the Bulls got a stop and then DeRozan found center Nikola Vucevic on a mismatch in the post. Vucevic converted a turnaround hook for a three-point lead, and DeRozan later hit two free throws to help hold the Blazers off.
“It’s sometimes more than just making a shot,” Caruso said of DeRozan. “It’s big rebounds tonight, it’s boxing out against their guys that are crashing hard and then finding Vooch on the mismatch down low for the layup to keep us up three. He just is a winner at heart. He’s a competitor and goes out there every night and does his best to help us win the game, and a lot of the time it’s making the right plays late in the game.”
One aspect in particular that DeRozan takes great pride in, notably late in games, is his decision-making. That has helped him remain efficient, and he produced again Monday by shooting 10-of-17 from the field and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line while adding six assists and five rebounds.
“I learned a technique years ago when it comes to swimming and boxing to be able to stay focused, no matter how tired you get,” DeRozan said of mental state. “Never panic when you’re in the water, and never overly let yourself feel fatigued when you’re boxing. That’s two training methods outside of basketball that I take serious every summer. And I’ve been doing that for years, so a lot of times, late-game moments is where I’m able to control a lot of my exertion. I know how to channel it somewhere else and know how to think clearly.”
Cody Westerlund is an editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund .
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